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Buying with intent to return...

S

skiltrip

macrumors 68030
Original poster
May 6, 2010
2,899
268
New York
Update: Resolved. Moral crisis averted.

Thanks eveyone for your feedback, even those that spit at my feet as they walked by mumbling "criminal" under their breath.

I called Apple, and for 18 bucks, I'm upped to next day shipping. So there's a MUCH greater chance of it showing up by Friday. Perhaps even earlier.

Seriously. Thanks folks.
......--------------------------------------------------


Ok. Totally not my style. But unfortunate timing has put me in a tough spot. Sold my 2010 MBP to get max value a couple weeks back. Just ordered a 2011 last night. But it's a CTO with 7200 drive. No sure when it'll come.

I had nothing booked so the downtime was no biggie. (audio scoring work) Turns out changes were made and now this big scoring project hit this week with a deadline of this weekend. And I have no computer.

I considered for a sec to just pick up a base 13" tomorrow from the Apple store to record what I need to for these sessions, then return it next week after my 15" shows up.

Is this Terrible of me? *What would you do?
 
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I'd do it. I was going to do this except with a base 15" just to try it and then upgrade if I felt I needed more or return it if I didn't like it (I'm a PC?). More or less the same thing. Do what you gotta go, I mean.
 
do it. ain't hurting anyone. and if it is, it's just apple. They charge up the ass anyway so whatever lulz.

seriously though, DO IT! I enjoy pissing off apple apologists even though I love apple products.
 
it's an ******* thing to do, not because I care about Apple, but people like you are ruining it for everybody who honestly need to return something.
 
Since you sold your 2010 "early," in order to maximize profits (not a bad choice), then I'd say you should figure out another way to cover the gap. I'm really happy that Apple have officially waived their restocking fees - it makes me more likely to try out a computer that I'm pretty sure I want, but not 100% sure. That's a nice option to have.

But you are talking about buying knowing you will return it, and to cover a gap that you knowingly chose in order to make more money on your 2010. I mean, it's not because something unforseen broke or etc.

So, to me it seems kind of lame. I wouldn't do it - and it's not that I'm some goody-two-shoes either.

Why are you asking? (I'm genuinely curious.)
 
Do it. As long as you don't mess the computer up, it's fine. Plus, it'll allow Apple to build up a stock of the refurbs, thus you'll be helping out the Apple fans with slightly more limiting funds. :D
 
Benjamins said:
it's an ******* thing to do, not because I care about Apple, but people like you are ruining it for everybody who honestly need to return something.
Click to expand...

What the hell are you going on about? So now he's not allowed to purchase a product to use it for awhile? It's eventually going to end up back on the shelf, and doing a return takes all of 5 minutes for an employee. I missed something.
 
Benjamins said:
it's an ******* thing to do, not because I care about Apple, but people like you are ruining it for everybody who honestly need to return something.
Click to expand...

This.

ddoolin0 said:
What the hell are you going on about? So now he's not allowed to purchase a product to use it for awhile? It's eventually going to end up back on the shelf, and doing a return takes all of 5 minutes for an employee. I missed something.
Click to expand...

:rolleyes:
 
if you're going to do it, you might as well pick up the high end 15" (mc723ll).... it'll show up eventually in the refurb store, where someone will pick it up on the cheap ;)
 
ddoolin0 said:
What the hell are you going on about? So now he's not allowed to purchase a product to use it for awhile? It's eventually going to end up back on the shelf, and doing a return takes all of 5 minutes for an employee. I missed something.
Click to expand...

Apple is going to have to spend time and money to refurbish the machine, and then they will have to sell it as a refurb unit which is at least 100-200 less than retail. Apple definitely loses some money on each used return. However, given Apple's margins, and the OPs need for the machine due to an unexpected circumstance, I'd say just go for it. Apple has huge profit margins anyway, and OP is still giving Apple a good chunk of change with the other MBP he is definitely going to pay for.
 
ddoolin0 said:
What the hell are you going on about? So now he's not allowed to purchase a product to use it for awhile? It's eventually going to end up back on the shelf, and doing a return takes all of 5 minutes for an employee. I missed something.
Click to expand...

I guess you missed the fact that Apple doesn't sell used computers as new. Personally, that makes me happy, as if I want a used computer, I will buy a used one - not a new one. Would you like my used computer for full new price? (Rhetorical question, as even if you don't care, people as a whole do; that's why new and used are two different categories.)
 
ddoolin0 said:
What the hell are you going on about? So now he's not allowed to purchase a product to use it for awhile? It's eventually going to end up back on the shelf, and doing a return takes all of 5 minutes for an employee. I missed something.
Click to expand...

you know why even Costco has to set a limit on returning electronics?
because *******s like him abuses the system.
 
Benjamins said:
you know why even Costco has to set a limit on returning electronics?
because *******s like him abuses the system.
Click to expand...

If Apple has to set a limit on returns, they obviously have much worse problems than this one guy, or even a handful of people, who buy them only to return them. Also, I don't think Costco is exactly a good comparison marker. Costco and Apple have two largely different customer bases and profit margins.

Please, people have been doing this crap for ages, since mass-market computers were introduced. ESPECIALLY Apple buyers (on returning products), and I don't see them changing their return policy or you getting hurt by it.

Abusing the system is returning 3 laptops in a row because they have a microscopic piece of damn debris that is UNNOTICEABLE somewhere on the laptop, even on the bottom! Perhaps Apple should stop catering to every single picky bastard who buys one of their products.
 
I think what the naysayers are forgetting is that he's actually still buying a machine. Apple is still making money off of him.

Right now I'm in a situation where I bought a 15" standard res MBP in-store and changed my mind. I went online and ordered a CTO 15" with the high-res screen. I'm keeping this mac until my new 15" gets here on the 2nd. Apple is still getting my money. I just can't be without a computer.
 
boshii said:
I think what the naysayers are forgetting is that he's actually still buying a machine. Apple is still making money off of him.

Right now I'm in a situation where I bought a 15" standard res MBP in-store and changed my mind. I went online and ordered a CTO 15" with the high-res screen. I'm keeping this mac until my new 15" gets here on the 2nd. Apple is still getting my money. I just can't be without a computer.
Click to expand...

Even AFTER they factor in the BOM and refurb costs, they're making quite a bit.
 
This behavior drives prices up for the rest of us and puts a few grains of sand in the stricter-return-policy hourglass.

And yes this is totally your style.
 
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